Around-the-World Roundup: 'Jupiter Ascending' Opens to $23 Million in China

by Ray Subers

Jupiter Ascending

March 8, 2015

Thanks to a solid debut in China, Jupiter Ascending took the top spot at the international box office this weekend.

The movie opened to $23.2 million in the world's second-largest market, which is more than it earned in its first weekend in the U.S. Through just three days, Jupiter Ascending has grossed more in China than in its next three international markets combined.

So far, Jupiter Ascending has taken in $107 million overseas. With another $30-million-plus on the way in China, plus an opening in Japan, it should ultimately reach $150 million overseas. Regardless, with a weak domestic number and a massive budget, the movie is still poised to lose a ton of money.Big Hero 6 added $19.6 million this weekend, which brings its total to $383.5 million. Most of that came from China, where the movie took in $15.9 million in its second weekend (a slight increase over its two-day debut). It now ranks second all-time there among Disney/Pixar movies, and should pass Frozen in the next week. Including its domestic gross, Big Hero 6 has now earned over $600 million worldwide.

Playing in 59 markets, international sensation Fifty Shades of Grey took in $17.7 million this weekend. The movie held first place in Germany for the fourth week in a row; its biggest markets to date are the U.K. ($50.5 million), Germany ($37.6 million) and France ($30.1 million). It's now earned over $527 million worldwide, and should end its run with at least $560 million.

Will Smith's Focus (2015) opened in first place in Mexico ($2.4 million), Italy ($2.2 million) and Australia ($2.1 million) this weekend. It was less impressive in Germany, where it debuted to a so-so $1.3 million. Overall, Focus added $17.7 million for an early total of $37 million. By the end of the month, it will have expanded in to Brazil, France and Spain.Kingsman: The Secret Service continued to put up impressive numbers internationally: the R-rated comic book adaptation added $17 million for a new total of $150.3 million. It opened in second place in Brazil with $1.6 million, and moved ahead of X-Men: Days of Future Past to become Fox's second-highest-grossing movie ever in South Korea. Kingsman expands in to Germany next weekend, then reaches China at the end of the month.American Sniper grossed an estimated $14.6 million overseas this weekend, which brings its international total to $163 million. Add in its domestic grosses, and the Clint Eastwood war movie has now banked over $500 million worldwide.

Coinciding with its domestic debut, Chappie opened in 53 international markets and earned an estimated $13.7 million. It took in $2.1 million in Russia, $1.7 million in France, $1.5 million in the U.K. and less than $1 million in Germany; none of those numbers are particularly strong. Most major markets are still to come, including Australia, South Korea, Mexico, and Spain next weekend, and Italy, Brazil and Japan later on.Unfinished Business rolled out to 15 international markets this weekend, where it earned a weak $2.6 million. It opened in eighth place in the U.K. with $1.4 million, and opened below $500,000 in Australia and below $300,000 in Russia.